Nedlands has a new mayor after Leonie Browner was elected to help lead the beleaguered city following a landslide victory at local government elections on Saturday. Voter turnout was slightly lower than the city’s last election in 2023, but 32.35 per cent of residents from the western suburbs council still made their vote count.
Ms Browner was elected with about 64 per cent of the vote — beating former councillor Fergus Bennett and long-term local resident Anthony Von Leonhardi. Six new councillors were also elected representing the Melivista, Hollywood and Dalkeith wards. Her win makes her the “most popularly elected mayor since the 1970s” — a claim former mayor Fiona Argyle made following a win with 50 per cent of the vote in 2023.
During her campaign, Ms Browner told PerthNow she wanted to be a “fresh candidate who could sensibly and capably lead the city”. “We need a council that will work together constructively in the public interest and look forward, not try to re-prosecute past battles,” she said. “I think a fresh start with all new councillors is really important to addressing the challenges faced by the city of Nedlands.”
Ms Browner will lead an almost new council. The new members will officially start their role and take over from the city’s three government-appointed commissioners this month. Only one former councillor — Rebecca Coghlan — was re-elected. She returns to the Melivista ward on a close margin. Newcomer Julian Coleman joins her as a Melivista representative. Ms Coghlan was among the councillors dismissed by the Government last year.
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley was forced to intervene after half of council resigned in a bid to lose its quorum. Speaking on Monday, Ms Beazley said it was good to see that election has resulted in a renewal, and I hope it will be a turning point and positive step forwards for the City of Nedlands. “The new Mayor and councillors will need to confront a number of challenges and have some tough decisions ahead of them,” she added.
Glenn Ruscoe and Rachel Kristensen won the two available seats for the Hollywood ward, beating former councillor Ben Hodson. Charles Pan and Jenny Mathews were elected in the Dalkeith ward. The incoming councillors will be joining Coastal ward candidates Eliza Clapin and Stephen Kobelke, who were elected unopposed last month. The new candidates will have their first council meeting on April 22, during which they will decide on the remaining council meeting dates for 2026, the appointment of committees and elect a deputy mayor.
